Prosecuting, Walter Bealby told the court how Pritchard, of Raglan Street, Hillfields, had been out drinking in Coventry with friends on the night of November 19, 2007.

A woman had been chatting to the group and told them about a dispute she was having with her boyfriend, who was on police bail on a harassment charge.

As the men got more drunk they decided to visit the woman’s boyfriend at his home.

Mr Bealby said: “The victim was asleep on a sofa in the front room and his mother was in the same room. Four or five men burst in through the unlocked front door. They were shouting and swearing. The commotion woke up the victim.”

He added: “The victim was attacked with punches to the face and his two front teeth were broken. He was bleeding from his face and nose.”

The victim, who had to undergo extensive dental work following the attack, recognised Pritchard as someone he played football with and later picked him out in an identity parade.

Pritchard, who has no previous convictions, originally pleaded not guilty but changed his plea at the last minute, after a jury had been selected for his trial.

Defending, Jutla Charnjit said Pritchard, who worked as a chef before the incident, had drunk to excess on the night of the attack.

He added his client has since made a statement to police about other men involved on the night who are now due to be charged by police.

Sentencing Pritchard to 14 months in prison, Judge Peter Ross said: “You were involved in an ugly and nasty incident. You, with a group of other men fuelled by drink, decided that you were going to take the law into your own hands.

“You behaved like vigilantes to mete out your own summary justice for an injury you thought had been caused.

“You burst into a man’s home. His mother must have been absolutely terrified and he was was beaten and badly injured.”